Nitrogen based fuel systems

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention relate to a fuel comprising one or more nitrogenous compounds and one or more stabilizer compounds. The stabilizer compounds are compatible with the one or more nitrogenous compounds.

BACKGROUND

Carbon based fuels contribute to many forms of environmental pollutionand possibly global warming effects. The dependence of nations on suchfuels can have negative economic and political consequences as theregions most notable for supplying the fuel are often rife withconflict. Carbon based fuels are also expensive and non-renewable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsdescribe substantially similar components throughout the several views.Like numerals having different letter suffixes represent differentinstances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrategenerally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, variousembodiments discussed in the present document.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block flow diagram of a method of operating anengine utilizing a nitrogen based fuel system, according to someembodiments.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention relate to a fuel comprising one or morenitrogenous compounds and one or more stabilizer compounds. Thestabilizer compounds are compatible with the one or more nitrogenouscompounds.

Embodiments also relate to a method of using a fuel. The methodcomprises introducing a fuel to an engine and operating the engine. Thefuel comprises one or more nitrogenous compounds and one or morestabilizer compounds which are compatible with the one or morenitrogenous compounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description includes references to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description.The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in whichthe invention may be practiced. These embodiments, which are alsoreferred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Theembodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, orstructural, and logical changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of thepresent invention is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used to include one or morethan one and the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or”unless otherwise indicated. In addition, it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein, and not otherwise defined,is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation.Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred toin this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety,as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event ofinconsistent usages between this document and those documents soincorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated referenceshould be considered supplementary to that of this document; forirreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a nitrogen based fuel system. Thenitrogen based fuel system of the present invention reduces or replacesthe need for carbon based fuels. This may lessen the need for importingof foreign fuel, especially from politically unstable areas. Thenitrogen based fuel system contributes less carbon dioxide emissions, aswell as less output of nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds and chlorinatedcompounds. Such a reduction in pollutants may increase the air qualityin highly populated areas and lessen the impact of global warmingeffects.

The nitrogen based fuel systems of the present invention are based onrenewable resources, unlike the limited supply of fossil fuels. Byutilizing such renewable resources, local economies are benefited andnational security is enhanced. The nitrogen based fuels are based onammonia (NH₃), which can be manufactured from air and water. One commonmethod of such production is the Haber-Bosch process, which mainlyrequires electrical energy to proceed.

The nitrogen based fuel systems also are more volumetrically favorablethan carbon based fuels. The nitrogen fuels have a greater specificgravity and therefore a higher energy density, which creates advantageswith shipping and overall cost of fuel. Vehicles that employ such a fuelmay have advantages of increased range. Stationary power plants thatutilize such a fuel may have increased operating times and moreefficient storage vessels.

The nitrogen based fuel of the embodiments of the present invention maybe based on one or more nitrogenous compounds and one or more stabilizercompounds that are compatible with the nitrogenous compounds.

Nitrogenous Compounds

The one or more nitrogenous compounds of the present invention mayinclude hydrazine hydrate, hydrazine azide, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), monomethyl hydrazine (MMH), hydrazine, ammonia, ureaor combinations thereof.

Hydrazine (N₂H₄) is a dimer of ammonia. Hydrazine derivatives includehydrazine hydrate, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH) andmonomethyl hydrazine (MMH), for example. Hydrazine has many physicalproperties similar to water, such as specific gravity, melting point andboiling point. Hydrazine is water soluble and dissipates rapidly whenexposed to the atmosphere, rather than contaminating the soil whenspilled.

Nitrogenous compounds combust to form mostly nitrogen and water.Existing hydrocarbon engines (e.g., gasoline engines, diesel engines)may be modified to burn the nitrogen based fuel of the presentinvention. In addition, most of the equipment currently being utilizedto handle fuel can be adapted to handle the nitrogen based fuel.

The nitrogenous compounds are water soluble and fires involving suchcompounds are generally easier to handle than hydrocarbon fires.Nitrogenous compounds evaporate rapidly when exposed to air and breakdown within a short time. Shipping and handling requirements may besimilar to that of hydrocarbons.

Stabilizer Compounds

The nitrogenous compounds can be mixed with one or more stabilizercompounds. The stabilizer compounds may assist with dissolving themixture, with reducing the explosive qualities of one or more componentsor lessening the toxicity of the mixture, for example. Stabilizercompounds may include ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium cyanide,urea, hydrazine hydrate, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH),monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and alcohols. Alcohols may be ethanol,isopropanol or combinations thereof, for example.

Urea, for example, is a solid that can be dissolved in one or morenitrogenous compounds. Urea may make the nitrogenous compounds morestable and overall, a cheaper fuel. The alcohols may be utilized tofacilitate the dissolving of other components, including energyenhancing compounds, such as hydrocarbons.

Compounds such as UDMH and MMH, for example, may act as both nitrogenouscompounds and also as stabilizer compounds. UDMH and MMH can both beused to stabilize nitrogenous compounds, for example.

Energy Enhancing Compounds

One or more energy enhancing compounds may be utilized with the fuel.Examples of energy enhancing compounds may include petroleum products,metal hydrides, hydrazine azide or combinations thereof. Petroleumproducts may include gasoline, diesel, kerosene or combinations thereof.Gasoline may include octane, heptane, hexane and combinations thereof.Metal hydrides may include boron hydrides. Examples of boron hydridesinclude pentaborane, hexaborane, decaborane and combinations thereof.

The energy enhancing compounds may be mixed with the one or morenitrogenous compounds and the one or more stabilizer compounds, so as toincrease the overall energy density of the mixture. The energy enhancingcompounds may also assist in reducing the overall cost of the fuel.

The one or more nitrogenous compounds may make up about 10% to about 80%of the total volume of the fuel. For example, the one or morenitrogenous compounds may make up about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, or about 90% the totalvolume of the fuel.

Fuel additives, such as an odor modifier, may also be part of the fuel.Examples of components found in the fuel may be hydrazine, ammonia, andurea. Further examples of a fuel mixture may be:

1) hydrazine,MMH and/or UDMH,hydrazine hydrate,urea and/or ammonia,one or more metal hydrides;2) hydrazine,

UDMH,

urea,ethanol or isopropanol,one or more hydrocarbons;3) hydrazine,

UDMH,

ammonia,hydrazine hydrate,one or more hydrocarbons;

4) UDMH,

urea,ammonia,ethanol or isopropanol;one or more hydrocarbons.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block flow diagram of a method 100 of operatingan engine utilizing a nitrogen based fuel system is shown, according tosome embodiments. A fuel may be introduced 102 to an engine. The fuelmay include one or more nitrogenous compounds and one or more stabilizercompounds which are compatible with the nitrogenous compounds. Theengine may be operated 104.

The fuel may compatible or useable with power land-based vehicles,water-based vehicles, air-based vehicles or stationary power plants, forexample. Land-based vehicles may include motor vehicles, automobiles,trucks, buses, trains, motorcycles and construction equipment.Water-based vehicles may include ships, boats and hovercraft, forexample. Air-based vehicles may include turbojet aircraft, turbopropaircraft, reciprocating engine aircraft and scram jet vehicles, forexample.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) to allow thereader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technicaldisclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that itwill not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims.

1. A fuel, comprising: one or more nitrogenous compounds; and one ormore stabilizer compounds, compatible with the one or more nitrogenouscompounds.
 2. The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one or more nitrogenouscompounds comprises one or more of hydrazine hydrate, hydrazine azide,unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH), monomethyl hydrazine (MMH),urea, ammonia and hydrazine.
 3. The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one ormore nitrogenous compounds comprise hydrazine.
 4. The fuel of claim 1,wherein the one or more stabilizer compounds comprise ammonia, ammoniumhydroxide, ammonium cyanide, urea, hydrazine hydrate, unsymmetricaldimethyl hydrazine (UDMH), monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and alcohols. 5.The fuel of claim 4, wherein alcohols comprise ethanol, isopropanol orcombinations thereof.
 6. The fuel of claim 1, further comprising one ormore energy enhancing compounds.
 7. The fuel of claim 6, wherein the oneor more energy enhancing compounds comprises petroleum products, metalhydrides, hydrazine azide or combinations thereof.
 8. The fuel of claim7, wherein the petroleum products comprise gasoline, diesel, kerosene orcombinations thereof.
 9. The fuel of claim 7, wherein the gasolinecomprises octane, heptane, hexane and combinations thereof.
 10. The fuelof claim 7, wherein the metal hydrides comprise boron hydrides.
 11. Thefuel of claim 10, wherein the boron hydrides comprise pentaborane,hexaborane, decaborane and combinations thereof.
 12. The fuel of claim1, wherein the one or more nitrogenous compounds comprise about 10% ofthe volume of the fuel.
 13. The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one or morenitrogenous compounds comprise about 20% of the volume of the fuel. 14.The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one or more nitrogenous compoundscomprise about 30% of the volume of the fuel.
 15. The fuel of claim 1,wherein the one or more nitrogenous compounds comprise about 40% of thevolume of the fuel.
 16. The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one or morenitrogenous compounds comprise about 50% of the volume of the fuel. 17.The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one or more nitrogenous compoundscomprise about 60% of the volume of the fuel.
 18. The fuel of claim 1,wherein the one or more nitrogenous compounds comprise about 70% of thevolume of the fuel.
 19. The fuel of claim 1, wherein the one or morenitrogenous compounds comprise about 80% of the volume of the fuel. 20.The fuel of claim 1, wherein the fuel is compatible with and use topower land-based vehicles, water-based vehicles, air-based vehicles andstationary power plants.
 21. The fuel of claim 20, wherein land-basedvehicles comprise motor vehicles, automobiles, trucks, buses, trains,motorcycles and construction equipment.
 22. The fuel of claim 20,wherein water-based vehicles comprise ships, boats and hovercraft. 23.The fuel of claim 20, wherein air-based vehicles include turbojetaircraft, turboprop aircraft, scram jet vehicles and reciprocatingengine aircraft.
 24. A fuel, comprising: hydrazine and urea.
 25. Thefuel of claim 24, wherein the hydrazine comprises about 10% to about 80%of the fuel volume.
 26. The fuel of claim 24, further comprisingmonomethyl hydrazine (MMH).
 27. The fuel of claim 24, further comprisinghydrazine hydrate.
 28. The fuel of claim 24, further comprising one ormore alcohols.
 29. The fuel of claim 24, further comprising one or moremetal hydrides.
 30. The fuel of claim 24, further comprising fueladditives.
 31. The fuel of claim 30, wherein the fuel additivescomprises an odor modifier.
 32. A method of using a fuel, comprising:introducing a fuel to an engine, the fuel comprising: one or morenitrogenous compounds; one or more stabilizer compounds, compatible withthe one or more nitrogenous compounds; and operating the engine.